2015-02-17

First testing in Linköping University's Decision Arena

The Norrköping Decision Arena builds on scientific advances within interactive visualization and participatory research to create novel applications for decision support and planning. It is the first of its kind in Europe which provide an advanced tool for international, national and local planning and decision-making.


The concept implies a transition from traditional meetings with unidirectional presentations or written documents to a visualization platform where different types of information can be displayed, compared and discussed. All participants have the same opportunity to simultaneously show multiple types of relevant information. Up to eight people can show information or images from their computers on a cylindrical projection surface. It aims to facilitate dialogue and transparency between participants that are discussing different action alternatives. People can participate in discussions in person  at the arena in Norrköping, Sweden or through web-based remote access. The Arena will also be used for educational purposes for students at under- and post-graduate levels.



The Norrköping Decision Arena has been developed by researchers at the Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research / TEMA Environmental Change and C-Research at Linköping University in cooperation with SMHI. It has been supported by the Municipality of Norrköping, LVF and Linköping University.

The Decision Arena will officially be launched on March 30, 2015.



2015-02-04

New report commissioned by the World Bank on climate change impacts



Turn Down the Heat: Confronting the New Climate Normal
1.5°C above pre-industrial times 1.5°C above pre-industrial times 
The third report in the series states that a warming of 1.5 degrees Celcius will take place as a consequence of actions that have lead to greenhouse gas emissions. This would mean a further 0.8 degrees that the earth's temperature of today.
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Climate Analytics who prepared the report also analyse likely impacts of even further warming of 2 and 4 degrees. 
The full report can be downloaded at : 
http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/publication/turn-down-the-heat
as well as a shorter feature outlining the highlights.